Top Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Academic performance, Administrative procedure, Armed forces, Business, Business education, Career education, Communications, Conferences, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Education, Educational accountability, Educational research, Educational tests, Elementary and secondary education, Engineering, Executive departments, Executive Office of the President, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal-state relations, Government employees, Government information, Government publications, Government publicity, Higher education, International competitiveness, International education, Internet, Job training, Language and languages, Law, Legal education, Legislation, Medical care, Medical education, Medicine, National security, Politics and government, Presidential appointments, Presidents, Public-private partnerships, Recruiting of employees, Science policy, Scientific education, Standards, State and local government, State politics and government, Surveys, Teacher education, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade, Translating and interpreting, Web sites
Latest Action: 05/18/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Bill TextTo establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council. 1/31/2007--Introduced. National Foreign Language Coordination Act - Establishes, in the Executive Office of the President, a National Foreign Language Coordination Council to: (1) oversee and implement the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI); and (2) develop and implement a national foreign language strategy. Includes heads of certain federal agencies as members of the Council. Establishes a National Language Director, to be appointed by the President, to: (1) chair the Council; (2) develop and monitor implementation of the strategy, built upon the efforts of the NSLI; (3) establish formal relationships among major stakeholders, including federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and (4) coordinate and lead a public information campaign. Requires the Council to consult with states to provide for designation of state contact persons.[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative Conference of the U.S., Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Alternative dispute resolution, Budgets, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Consent decrees, Counterterrorism, Data banks, Disciplining of employees, Electronic government information, Employee training, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal officials, Freedom of information, Government contractors, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Government statistics, Governmental investigations, Identification devices, Infrastructure, Infrastructure (Economics), Internet, Job training, Judicial review, Law, Legal fees, Legislation, Mass media, Mediation, National Archives and Records Administration, Performance measurement, Personnel management, Position classification, Promotions, Public contracts, Public records, Reporters and reporting, Salaries, Technology, Telecommunication, Telephone, Terrorism, User charges, Web sites
Latest Action: 09/04/2007 - Received in the House. Bill TextA bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes. 8/3/2007--Passed Senate amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 or the OPEN Government Act of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act. (Sec. 3) Provides definitions of "representative of the news media" and "news," for purposes of request processing fees. Regards a freelance journalist as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by the entity. (Sec. 4) Provides that, for purposes of awarding attorney [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Authors and authorship, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Confidential communications, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Freedom of the press, Humanities, Informers, Journalistic ethics, Law, Newspapers, Periodicals, Press, Prosecution, Radio stations, Subpoena, Telecommunication, Television stations, Witnesses
Latest Action: 09/27/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-226. 10:00 a.m. Bill TextA bill to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media. 5/2/2007--Introduced. Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 - Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency) from compelling a covered person (a person engaged in journalism, including their supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate) to testify or produce any document unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be limited and narrowly tailored. Applies this Act to communications service providers with regard to testimony or any record, information, or other communication that relates to a business transaction between such providers and covered persons. Sets forth notice requirements. Permits a court [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Authors and authorship, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Confidential communications, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Freedom of the press, Humanities, Informers, Journalistic ethics, Law, Newspapers, Periodicals, Press, Prosecution, Radio stations, Subpoena, Telecommunication, Television stations, Witnesses
Latest Action: 10/18/2007 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428. Bill TextTo maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media. 10/16/2007--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency of the federal government), in any matter arising under federal law, from compelling a covered person to testify or produce any document unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including determinations: (1) relating to exhaustion of alternative sources, (2) that the testimony or document sought is critical; (3) that disclosure of the information source's identity is necessary; and (4) that the public interest in compelling disclosure of the information or document involved outweighs the public interest in gathering [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Authors and authorship, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Confidential communications, Counterterrorism, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Freedom of the press, Humanities, Informers, Internet, Journalistic ethics, Law, Press, Prosecution, Reporters and reporting, Subpoena, Technology, Telecommunication, Terrorism, Witnesses
Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S7710-7722, S7722-7759) Bill TextA bill to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media. 10/22/2007--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency) from compelling a covered person to testify or produce any document relating to protected information unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including that all reasonable alternative sources have been exhausted, that the testimony or document sought is essential, and that nondisclosure would be contrary to the public interest, taking into account both the public interest in compelling disclosure and the public interest in gathering news and maintaining the free flow of information. Defines [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Budgets, Civil liberties, Communications, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Consent decrees, Disciplining of employees, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal officials, Freedom of information, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Government statistics, Identification devices, Law, Legal fees, Limitation of actions, National Archives and Records Administration, Ombudsman, Personnel management, Politics and government, Position classification, Promotions, Public records, Rating of employees, Reporters and reporting
Latest Action: 12/31/2007 - Became Public Law No: 110-175. Bill TextA bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes. 12/31/2007--Public Law. (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.) Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 or the OPEN Government Act of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act. (Sec. 3) Provides definitions of "representative of the news media" and "news" for purposes of request processing fees. Regards a freelance journalist as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Academic performance, Administrative procedure, Armed forces, Business, Business education, Career education, Communications, Conferences, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Education, Educational accountability, Educational research, Educational tests, Elementary and secondary education, Engineering, Executive departments, Executive Office of the President, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal-state relations, Government employees, Government information, Government publications, Government publicity, Higher education, International competitiveness, International education, Internet, Job training, Language and languages, Law, Legal education, Legislation, Medical care, Medical education, Medicine, National security, Politics and government, Presidential appointments, Presidents, Public-private partnerships, Recruiting of employees, Science policy, Scientific education, Standards, State and local government, State politics and government, Surveys, Teacher education, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade, Translating and interpreting, Web sites
Latest Action: 01/31/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1425-1426) Bill TextA bill to establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council. 1/31/2007--Introduced. National Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2007 - Establishes, in the Executive Office of the President, a National Foreign Language Coordination Council to: (1) oversee and implement the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI); and (2) develop and implement a national foreign language strategy. Includes heads of certain federal agencies as members of the Council. Establishes a National Language Director, to be appointed by the President, to: (1) chair the Council; (2) develop and monitor implementation of the strategy, built upon the efforts of the NSLI; (3) establish formal relationships among major stakeholders, including federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and (4) coordinate and lead a public information campaign. Requires the Council to consult with states to provide for designation of state [...] show full description
Latest Action: 02/29/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1434-1435; text as passed Senate: CR S1435; text of measure as introduced: CR S1433) Bill TextA resolution honoring the life of William F. Buckley, Jr. 2/29/2008--Passed Senate without amendment. (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Honors the life of William F. Buckley, Jr. (founder of the National Review magazine) and expresses condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Bill TextHonoring the national contributions of the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri, on its 100th Anniversary. 12/19/2007--Introduced. Honors the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri, on the celebration of its 100th Anniversary. Recognizes its important contributions to this nation.
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Business, Communications, Culture, Economic concentration, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Government information, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Humanities, Independent regulatory commissions, Law, Minorities, Minorities in mass media, Minority business enterprises, Newspapers, Radio journalism, Radio programs, Radio stations, Telecommunication, Telecommunication industry, Television programs, Television stations, Women, Women in business
Latest Action: 12/04/2007 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-253. 2:30 p.m. Bill TextA bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership. 11/8/2007--Introduced. Media Ownership Act of 2007 - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in changing any of its regulations related to broadcast ownership, to publish notice in the Federal Register for least 90 days, followed by at least 60 days for public comment, followed by at least 30 days to reply to comments. Applies those requirements to any any changes related to broadcast and newspaper ownership made after October 1, 2007. Requires the FCC, before voting on any change in broadcast and newspaper ownership rules, to complete a separate rulemaking to promote the broadcast of local programming and content by broadcasters, including radio [...] show full description
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Latest Legislation - View All
Latest Action: 04/23/2008 - Mr. Davis (IL) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended. Bill TextExpressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of William F. Buckley, Jr. 4/23/2008--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Honors the life of William F. Buckley, Jr., for his lifetime commitment to journalism, his devotion to the free exchange of ideas, and his gentlemanly and well-respected contributions to political discourse. Mourns the loss of William F. Buckley, Jr., and expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family, his friends, and his colleagues.
Latest Action: 02/29/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1434-1435; text as passed Senate: CR S1435; text of measure as introduced: CR S1433) Bill TextA resolution honoring the life of William F. Buckley, Jr. 2/29/2008--Passed Senate without amendment. (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Honors the life of William F. Buckley, Jr. (founder of the National Review magazine) and expresses condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Bill TextHonoring the national contributions of the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri, on its 100th Anniversary. 12/19/2007--Introduced. Honors the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri, on the celebration of its 100th Anniversary. Recognizes its important contributions to this nation.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Budgets, Civil liberties, Communications, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Consent decrees, Disciplining of employees, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal officials, Freedom of information, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Government statistics, Identification devices, Law, Legal fees, Limitation of actions, National Archives and Records Administration, Ombudsman, Personnel management, Politics and government, Position classification, Promotions, Public records, Rating of employees, Reporters and reporting
Latest Action: 12/31/2007 - Became Public Law No: 110-175. Bill TextA bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes. 12/31/2007--Public Law. (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.) Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 or the OPEN Government Act of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act. (Sec. 3) Provides definitions of "representative of the news media" and "news" for purposes of request processing fees. Regards a freelance journalist as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Budgets, Civil liberties, Communications, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Consent decrees, Disciplining of employees, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal officials, Freedom of information, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Government statistics, Identification devices, Law, Legal fees, Limitation of actions, National Archives and Records Administration, Ombudsman, Personnel management, Politics and government, Position classification, Promotions, Public records, Rating of employees, Reporters and reporting
Latest Action: 12/06/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14853-14854) Bill TextA bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes. 12/6/2007--Introduced. Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 or the OPEN Government Act of 2007 - Amends Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provisions to define "representative of the news media" and "news," specify examples of news-media entities, and provide that a freelance journalist shall be regarded as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity.Provides that, for purposes of recovery of attorney fees and other litigation costs under FOIA, a complainant has substantially prevailed if the complainant has obtained relief through either: (1) a judicial order or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or (2) [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Business, Communications, Culture, Economic concentration, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Government information, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Humanities, Independent regulatory commissions, Law, Minorities, Minorities in mass media, Minority business enterprises, Newspapers, Radio journalism, Radio programs, Radio stations, Telecommunication, Telecommunication industry, Television programs, Television stations, Women, Women in business
Latest Action: 12/04/2007 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-253. 2:30 p.m. Bill TextA bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership. 11/8/2007--Introduced. Media Ownership Act of 2007 - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in changing any of its regulations related to broadcast ownership, to publish notice in the Federal Register for least 90 days, followed by at least 60 days for public comment, followed by at least 30 days to reply to comments. Applies those requirements to any any changes related to broadcast and newspaper ownership made after October 1, 2007. Requires the FCC, before voting on any change in broadcast and newspaper ownership rules, to complete a separate rulemaking to promote the broadcast of local programming and content by broadcasters, including radio [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Anarchism, Armed forces, Citizenship, Communications, Congress and foreign policy, Congress and military policy, Congressional oversight, Congressional-executive relations, Constitution, Constitutional law, Courts-martial and courts of inquiry, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Defense policy, Detention of persons, Due process of law, Electronic surveillance, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Fines (Penalties), Foreign policy, Habeas corpus, Imprisonment, Information leaking, Injunctions, Intelligence activities, International affairs, Kidnapping, Law, National security, Parties to actions, Police questioning, Politics and government, President and foreign policy, Presidents, Prosecution, Reporters and reporting, Rule of law, Terrorism, Torture, War and emergency powers, War crimes, Warrants (Law)
Latest Action: 11/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextTo restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. 10/15/2007--Introduced. American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 - Repeals the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Authorizes the President to establish military commissions for the trial of war crimes only in places of active hostilities against the United States where an immediate trial is necessary to preserve fresh evidence or to prevent local anarchy. Prohibits the President from detaining any individual indefinitely as an unlawful enemy combatant absent proof by substantial evidence that the individual has directly engaged in active hostilities against the United States. Prohibits the detention of any U.S. citizen as an unlawful enemy combatant. Entitles any individual detained as an enemy combatant by the United States to petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Prohibits any civilian or military tribunal of the United [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Authors and authorship, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Confidential communications, Counterterrorism, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Freedom of the press, Humanities, Informers, Internet, Journalistic ethics, Law, Press, Prosecution, Reporters and reporting, Subpoena, Technology, Telecommunication, Terrorism, Witnesses
Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S7710-7722, S7722-7759) Bill TextA bill to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media. 10/22/2007--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency) from compelling a covered person to testify or produce any document relating to protected information unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including that all reasonable alternative sources have been exhausted, that the testimony or document sought is essential, and that nondisclosure would be contrary to the public interest, taking into account both the public interest in compelling disclosure and the public interest in gathering news and maintaining the free flow of information. Defines [...] show full description
Latest Action: 07/30/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Bill TextHonoring the extraordinary life of legendary reporter, television personality, international humanitarian, and Houston icon Marvin Harold Zindler, who championed the cause of the economically powerless, politically underrepresented, and physically ill and disabled in Houston, across the nation, and around the world. 7/30/2007--Introduced. Extends condolences to the family of Marvin Harold Zindler (investigative journalist in Houston, Texas) and his Channel 13 KTRK family. Mourns his passing and honors him for his service to the people of Houston, American citizens, and the international community, particularly politically underrepresented, economically powerless, and physically ill and disabled people, through his entrepreneurial journalism.
Also tagged in: Authors and authorship, Business, Business records, Civil liberties, Communications, Confidential communications, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Freedom of the press, Humanities, Informers, Journalistic ethics, Law, Newspapers, Periodicals, Press, Prosecution, Radio stations, Subpoena, Telecommunication, Television stations, Witnesses
Latest Action: 09/27/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-226. 10:00 a.m. Bill TextA bill to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media. 5/2/2007--Introduced. Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 - Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency) from compelling a covered person (a person engaged in journalism, including their supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate) to testify or produce any document unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be limited and narrowly tailored. Applies this Act to communications service providers with regard to testimony or any record, information, or other communication that relates to a business transaction between such providers and covered persons. Sets forth notice requirements. Permits a court [...] show full description
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